All roads led to Bangkok again on Tuesday, as people returned to the capital to return to work on the final day of the Songkran festival holiday.
Traffic begins building up on the inbound Friendship Highway, between Nakhon Ratchasima to Saraburi, as Songkran revellers return to Bangkok on Tuesday, with a total slowdown expected late in the day. (Photo by Prasit Tangprasert)
About 80,000 police aided by 40,000 volunteers were deployed on all eight incoming main roads - the Asian Highway, Pahon Yothin, Friendship Highway, Thon Buri-Pak Tor, the Motorway and the ring roads - with almost 2,400 checkpoints set up to direct traffic into Bangkok, Pol Lt Gen Ruangsak Jaritek, assistant national police chief, said.
Traffic on the highways began building up early Tuesday morning as motorists planned to avoid unwanted, but inevitable traffic congestion in the late afternoon and evening.
Pol Lt Gen Ruangsak said road congestion was expected on all eight main roads until early hours of Wednesday.
The worst problem could be the Friendship Highway, at kilometre marker 85 in Nong Khae district of Saraburi, where only half of the four inbound lanes would be available to motorists driving from Nakhon Ratchasima, Pol Maj Gen Pongsith Saengpeth, the Highways Police chief, warned.
All trains and interprovincial buses to Bangkok were fully booked as the State Railway and state bus operator Transport Co added more trains and buses to carry passengers to Bangkok. Private bus services were also heavily booked.
Additional train services were scheduled from Ubon Ratchathani to Bangkok, with three more trains running from Tuesday to Thursday in addition to the 11 regular services, Somjit Wadklinhom, an SRT official said.
Transport Co managing-director Wutthichart Kallayanamitr said the heaviest demand for seats was for Tuesday and Wednesday, with at least 300,000 buss travellers on each of those two days.
Mor Chit, which is the terminal station for bus lines from northern and northeastern provinces, was crowded from early Tuesday morning as people flocked back to Bangkok.
The road toll continued to soar, with the casualty tally for the last two days of the "seven dangerous days'' still to be compiled.
The death toll of the first five days amounted to 255, two more than last year. The number of accidents was 2,290, down a bit from 2,581 in 2012, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported Tuesday.
Chiang Mai had the highest number of accidents at 86 and injuries at 87. Prachuap Khiri Khan and Kanchanaburi had the highest death tolls, with 11 each.
Drunk driving and speeding were still the prime causes of accidents. Motorcycles and pickup trucks being involved in the largest number of accidents.
Department deputy director-general Anusorn Kaewkangwan said heavy rains in some provinces during the holiday contributed to accidents and loss of life this year.
He said drivers falling asleep at the wheel as they return to Bangkok was a problem to be considered as the road safety campaign enters its final stage.
Rest areas had been set up along main roads, offering coffee and refreshment, but were not popular as drivers preferred stops at petrol stations, he said.
Government offices and most private firms will reopen on Wednesday, including commercial banks and the stock market, but some companies will remain closed until Thursday.